dont really need the diamont bit. carbide will do just fine and a replacement is only 3.11 at master carr....... you can chip a diamond bit and never really be able to fix it let alone notice it.. 100 bucks down the toilet

get the lathe w/ the diamond bit, it shouldnt chip unless you keep it in its box and protected and dont drop it lol. carbide bits dont last and there not that great. The diamond bits last for ever unless damaged. I myself have this lathe w/ the diamond bit and it works awsome. Very good lathe for the price, go for it.

I wouldnt put too much stock into a diamond bit. They cut very well but the value of a carbide cannot be denied. One mistake with a carbide and you are out $4. One mistake with a diamond and you are out a considerable amount of money.

I have the Cobra lathe and it works great but, I also thought I would not need the diamond bit. I did not like the finish of the carbide bit, once I got the diamond bit ($69 at tower) then I realized how bad the carbide cut was. The diamond bit's finish was amazing! Just get it when you buy the lathe and save yourself $10.

Originally posted by rcdougie I wouldnt put too much stock into a diamond bit. They cut very well but the value of a carbide cannot be denied. One mistake with a carbide and you are out $4. One mistake with a diamond and you are out a considerable amount of money.

i agree with you, but practice make perfect, just use the carbide bit untill u are use with the lathe.

This may not be the thread, but are you supposed to feed the cutter pretty fast? I thought slow would be better but it left ridges in the comm. If I go faster it's pretty nice. What are the signs of a worn carbide bit?

Diamond bit is by far the way to go. A carbide bit will only last a few good cuts. A fellow racer has over 1000 cuts on his original diamond bit. I'm pushing 200 and my last cut is as perfect as the first.

Originally posted by Pro4Capece Diamond bit is by far the way to go. A carbide bit will only last a few good cuts. A fellow racer has over 1000 cuts on his original diamond bit. I'm pushing 200 and my last cut is as perfect as the first.

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